Foreign students had contributed around $5.25 billion to the economy of Australia in a period of three months.

According to the figures from Bureau of Statistics of Australia, the optimistic September quarter limits off to a record breaking year in the overseas student sector that brought in almost $19 billion for a year.

According to the Australia’s International Education Association, Executive Director, Phil Honeywood, the sturdy demand from the foreign students are being fuelled by the lowering Australian dollar, visa policies restrictions in the competitor nations, especially Britain and long-term strong performances on the league tables of the universities.

Current figures has showed that around 5.1% less student visas were issued in the month of June compared to same time last year, as the department was harsh on the students who are non-genuine from Nepal, Vietnam and India. It was for the first time the number of visa issues has decreased since the year 2009.

Mr. Honeywood also said that the conflicting situation of much income from less students can possibly be explained by many students in pipeline between the higher education and pre-university study and the rapidly increasing fee hikes.

Meanwhile, the federal government has identified the foreign education as one of five growth industries in future. In August month, there were around 5,66, 013 foreign students in Australia who paid full fees on the student visa. Among these around 2,62,000 got admission in the university, while many of them pursue education at the English language colleges, vocational colleges, schools and also in non-awarding programs.

Melbourne University recorded the highest number of students with 16,140 with the maximum share of 29% of foreign students.